"The Nutcracker” with Live Music Plays Dec. 9-11

Art in Public Places

In 2017, Nome Park will see a lot of changes, including the addition of some public art! Thanks to a collaboration with the Trust for Public Land and the National Endowment for the Arts, Nome Park will be renovated and expanded to include a fitness area, modernized play equipment and gathering spaces.

Denver artist Reven Swanson was chosen to create a new piece of public art for Nome Park, and worked closely with local community members and students from Aurora Central High School to create art that truly represents the interests of those who will interact with it most. Reven and the design team behind the park renovation are determined to create a sense of place, and somewhere for the community to take pride in.

Click here to see pictures of the art in progress, and read about Reven’s inspirations for this project.

Citizens paint the Clinton Street mural

Section of Clinton Street mural

Citizens "model" with their Clinton Street mural art!

Nearly completed section of Clinton Street mural

Aurora citizens paint a portion of the Clinton Street mural

The bee in the flower on the Clinton Street mural

Citizens of all ages participated in painting the Clinton Street mural

"Steel Stampede" by Douwe Blumberg​

Aurora's Art in Public Places Program enhances the quality of life in Aurora as high-quality neighborhoods and public spaces are developed and maintained.

Locally and nationally renowned artists have created 240 individual pieces to enhance the city's public spaces with works of art ranging from outdoor sculptures and murals to functional works integrated into the architecture.

The program is funded from a city ordinance requiring the dedication of 1 percent of the funds used to build city of Aurora construction and remodeling projects with budgets of $100,000 or more. Grants and fundraising efforts also fund city public art projects.

The Art in Public Places Program is governed by the nine-member Aurora City Council-appointed Art in Public Places Commission. The commission is responsible for making recommendations to the city council regarding the public art program, including project budget allocation, strategic planning, development of policies and procedures,and approval of artwork to be commissioned or purchased.

Art Selection ProcessMore than 500 participants have selected public art in Aurora through the art selection process. Public participation is one of the most important aspects of the public art program. Because public resources are used to fund public art projects, it is vital that public art is selected through a transparent public selection process. The process has been developed through tried and true industry methods, and is non-discriminatory, unbiased and equitable. Equally valuable is the selection of high-quality artwork made of durable materials, ensuring that it will be appreciated long into the future.

Each public art project is chosen by an art selection panel composed of community representatives, an Art in Public Places Commission member, artists, visual arts professionals, architects, facility managers and a city council representative. The city's public art manager facilitates the selection process and works with the panel to determine their collective interests, including the location, theme and media for each artwork.

Public Art in Private DevelopmentsMetropolitan DistrictsThose developments in Aurora that benefit from a Title 32 Metropolitan District are required to place art in the public spaces of the development. Public art is a tool that creates unique public spaces, and is a valuable community asset. Providing a cultural amenity creates strong communities and healthy economies.

Transit-oriented DevelopmentThe Transit-oriented Development Ordinance provides for the acquisition of outdoor works of art for developments that will be located in Transit-oriented Development (TOD) districts. The TOD districts are areas surrounding the planned light rail line along the I-225 corridor. Similar to the Metropolitan District concept, public art contributes to the success of public spaces.